Stiftkirche St. Peter, Salzburg
Exterior and interior of St. Peter's Church. Photos
Stefan Eissing.
Interior of St. Peter's, looking towards the altar. Photo
Douglas Sprott.
Baroque-style ceiling. Photo
Stefan Eissing.Interactive aerial map of St. Peter's Church. For a larger view,
see our Salzburg Map or Google Earth download.
The Abbey Church of St. Peter in Salzburg was founded by St. Rupert, who is buried inside. It is the church of St. Peter's Benedictine Abbey and is known for its sumptuous Baroque decoration.
History
St. Rupert originally founded St. Peter's Abbey in 696 AD. The present building was constructed in the Romanesque period, then completely renovated in the 17th and 18th centuries in the Baroque style.
Here Mozart's famed Mass in C Minor premiered in 1783, with his wife, Constanze, singing the lead soprano role. Mozart often directed orchestra and choir here and played its organ. During Salzburg's summer music festival in August, the Mass in C Minor is performed here as part of a church music concert.
What to See
The front portal of the church dates from 1245, with Romanesque vaulted arches.
Romanesque architecture can be seen inside too, but it is overwhelmed with the decoration in the characteristically sumptuous Late-Baroque style of the 1770s. The side aisles are painted in Rococo style. Behind the Rupert altar is the Felsengrab, where St. Rupert is believed to be buried.
There are several art treasures in the church, including some altar paintings by Kremser Schmidt. The Salzburg Madonna in the left chancel is from the early 15th century. The side chapel by the entrance has an unusual crèche portraying the Flight into Egypt and the Massacre of the Innocents.
After exploring the church, consider a meal at the abbey's legendary Weinkeller Restaurant, adjacent to the church. Founded a thousand years ago by the abbey's monks, it serves traditional Austrian food at reasonable prices.
Quick Facts
| Names: | Stiftkirche St. Peter; St. Peter's Abbey Church; St. Peter's |
| Type of site: | Abbey church |
| Faith: | Roman Catholic (Benedictine order) |
| Dates: | Founded 686; mostly rebuilt in 17-18C |
| Architecture: | Baroque with some Romanesque remains |
| Address: | St. Peter Bezirk, Salzburg, Austria |
| Phone: | 0662/844578-0 |
| Bus: | 5, 6, or 55 |
| Hours: | Apr.-Sept., daily 6:30 AM-7 PM; Oct.-Mar., daily 6:30 AM-6 PM. |
| Cost: | Free |
Travel Resources
- Salzburg Hotel Reviews - unbiased reviews and ratings from travelers
- Salzburg Hostels & Guesthouses - budget lodging with no booking fees
- Salzburg Travel Forum - tips, advice, invaluable information
- Car Rentals in Salzburg - good deals on a large fleet from AutoEurope
- Austrian Railpass
- a money-saving option on train travel from RailEurope
Article Sources
- Personal visit (September 2004)
- Frommer's Austria, 11th edition.
More Information
- Stift St. Peter (St. Peter's Abbey) – TripAdvisor reviews and articles
